Isaac Hayes

Over the weekend the entertainment industry was hit hard by the sudden loss of two great entertainers, comedian Bernie Mac and legendary entertainer Isaac Hayes. Dionne Warwick, George Clooney, Chris Rock and the African American Film Critics association are among those who have issued statements regarding the shocking loss of the extraordinary entertainers. "I've lost one of my best buddies and it is not easy to reckon with" says Dionne Warwick who via ET issued a statement regarding the loss of Isaac Hayes, who she worked with on many occasions. "He was 'family' ... he will be a part of my musical life each time I sing the song 'Deja Vu' as this was a birthday gift to me from him. His renditions of songs that I had recorded, especially, 'Walk On By,' in my opinion, 'the definitive version' will always be another memory each time I sing it, and the humorous side that he showed few (that I knew so well)." Warwick's sentiments echo those of the African American Film Critics Association that honored both Bernie Mac who died on Saturday and Hayes who passed on Sunday. "Bernie Mac had the ability to effortlessly make people laugh," says AAFCA member Wilson Morales. "He was an incredible talent with whom my colleagues and I in AAFCA always looked forward to covering. Bernie had a big heart and he will certainly be missed by the members of our organization." "The loss of Isaac Hayes less than 24-hours after Bernie Mac represents a major double blow to the entire entertainment industry, black Hollywood in particular," says AAFCA President Gil Robertson IV. "The art form and expressions created by Isaac Hayes in particular resonated not only in American pop culture but throughout American life. Both are talents that will be missed but always remembered." In addition to the AAFCA, stars such as Niecy Nash, who portrayed Mac's sister on the hit Fox series "The Bernie Mac Show," funnyman Dane Cook, Brad Pitt and George Clooney, who starred with Mac in Ocean's Eleven, Ice Cube and Chris Rock each paid tribute to Mac over the weekend. Rock, who starred with Mac in "Head of State" told E! that Mac was "one of the best and funniest comedians to ever live, but that was the second-best thing he did. Bernie was one of the greatest friends a person could have. Losing him is like losing 12 people, because he absolutely filled up any room he was in. I'm gonna miss the Mac Man."